A Time to Reflect

On National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we invite our Pacific Community Church community to slow down and pause together to honour Indigenous peoples, to remember the painful history that has shaped so many lives, and to hold space for the grief, healing, and hope that continue today. 

We grieve what has been lost and what has been broken, while holding onto the hope that healing and reconciliation can grow when we are willing to face the truth, listen with humility, and walk faithfully alongside one another.

As followers of Jesus, we believe reconciliation begins with a willingness to listen, to learn, and to tell the truth about our history. May we honour the voices and experiences of Indigenous peoples, make room for their stories, and seek relationships marked by respect, trust, and mutual care. 

May we not treat reconciliation as a single day of remembrance, but as an ongoing invitation to learn, to build relationships, to pursue justice, and to live more fully into the way of Jesus. May the way we remember today shape the way we listen, love, and walk alongside others throughout our lives. 

Please join us in prayer:

God of mercy and compassion, thank you for this day. Help us to listen with humility, to learn with open hearts, and to remember with honour those whose stories must not be forgotten.

We pray for residential school survivors, their families, and Indigenous communities across Canada. Bring comfort to those carrying grief and pain, and give strength to those working toward healing.

God, we are so grateful for the people and ministries who faithfully walk alongside Indigenous communities throughout the year. We pray for North America Indigenous Ministries and for Tim Higginbotham. Please give them wisdom, strength, and grace as they serve, build relationships, and share the hope of your Gospel. May their work be marked by humility, trust, and genuine relationships. 

We also lift up the Mount Currie community to you. Thank you for the ways you are at work there, for the relationships that have been formed, and for the opportunities to share your Good News. We praise you for the ways lives are being changed and pray for continued growth, encouragement, and hope within the community.

We lift up Wylie and Temera as they lead and serve in Mount Currie. Lord, please give them wisdom for each day, strength for the work before them, and deep joy as they walk alongside the community. Bless their ministry and the relationships they have built, and continue to guide them as they serve with love and faithfulness.

Lord, help us to remember that reconciliation is not ours to accomplish for others, but a journey we are invited to walk with humility, openness, and a willingness to listen. Shape us into people who seek understanding, honour the dignity of every person, and reflect your heart in the way we live and love.

May your peace guide our hearts, your love shape the way we live and relate to one another, and your Holy Spirit give us the courage and humility to walk faithfully toward healing, reconciliation, and hope. May our lives reflect your heart and help bring greater love, understanding, and restoration to the communities around us.

We love you Lord, and we pray all of this in Jesus’ mighty name. 

Amen.